Dental unit accessory



Nov. 13, 1962 R. N. LADENHEIM ETAL 3,063,568

DENTAL UNIT ACCESSORY Filed Jan. 7, 1955 INVENTORS Robert N.Lc|denheim y Abraham Schwartz ATTORNEY United States PatentOfifice 3,063,568 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 3,063,568 7 DENTAL UNlT ACCESSORY Robert N. Ladenheim, 6360 102nd St., and Abraham Schwartz, 282 7th Ave., both of Forest Hills, N.Y. Filed Jan. 7, 1955, Ser. No. 480,454 4 Claims. (Cl. 211-77) This invention relates to dental units. In particular, it is directed to an accessory which is mountablev on a traysupporting member of a dental unit, whereby expanded working facilities are provided to the dentist in carrying out his operative procedures.

Dental units are constructed with two types of tray mountings. In one of the types, a two-armed bracket is mounted on a standard. The shorter, external arm of this type terminates in a hub to receive a pin that extends downwardly from a rotatable tray assembly. In the other type, the unit is provided with a single arm, the external end of which carries the tray assembly.

As is well known, the dentist when engaged in manip ulative and operative procedures utilizes various medicaments, swabs, instruments and other elements. The disposition of these articles and elements is a matter of great concern. Sometimes the dentist will place disposable receptacles, as for example, paper cups on the top of the tray into which he places items that he uses during his working, or items that are to be discarded. Such cups may be easily pushed off the tray, resulting in spillage on the floor, etc. .Moreover, the present units have no provision for collecting bits ofmercury or amalgams.

In the filling ofcavities with precious metal amalgams, the excess mercury is squeezed out so that the filling will have maximum strength. as well as other desirable characteristics. In most dental otfices, the mercury is discarded as waste because of the fact that proper receptacles are not available for the collection thereof. Indeed, unused amalgams are also discarded or lost because of the unavailability of proper receptacles. These small bits of mercury and the amalgam when considered in the aggregate over a period of time are valuable. Dental units as presently constructed do not provide means for the collection and accumulation of such small bits of mercury and they are, therefore, lost.

On the whole, the dental units with their trays as now available and currently being used are devoid of means that provide the dentist with conveniently accessible and adequately supported, receptacles to accommodate his needs. With all the materials, instruments, etc., that the dentist must have within easy reach, the working space on the tray of the dental unit is at a premium.

The instant invention makes it possible to provide a dental unit with a readily installed accessory that accommodates easily removable receptacles such as paper cups, etc., as well as supports for dental instruments so that the usefulness of the dental unit is markedly enhanced.

Accordingly, it is among the principal objects of this invention to provide an accessory that may be mounted on the tray supporting member of a dental unit, the accessory having a plurality of means that are adapted firmly to support and carry receptacles, such as paper cups, etc., as well as elements adapted to support dental insrtuments.

Another object is to provide an accessory of the character just described which may readily be mounted on dental units now installed in dentists offices.

A further object of this invention is to provide an accessory of the type described which is featured by simplicity of construction and ease of installation on dental units.

The foregoing objects of the invention and advantages thereof, as well as additional objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 isan exploded view of the bracket portion of a two-armed bracket type of a dental unit having the customary tray assembly, as modified by an accessory in accordance with this invention, the accessory being disposed in its operative relationship to the tray assembly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1 in assembled relationship.

. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the tray assembly of the second type of dental unit wherein a tray is carried by a single-arm bracket, this view showing a tray-supporting member, a tray, and an accessory in accordance with this invention disposed in operative relationship with the tray.

- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3 in assembled relationship.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bracket 10 comprises, a long arm 12 anda short arm 14, and the burner 70. Arm 12 is mounted on the standard 15 carried by the dental unit. Arm 14 terminates in a hub 16 having an axially disposed bore -18. The tray assembly 22 comprises a base I '24 upon which is set removable tray 26. The base 24 carries adownwardly extending pin 28 that fits into the bore 18, thus providing for the rotation of tray assembly 22. The accessory 30 comprises a ring 32, as of metal or other suitable material, having a plurality of peripherally disposed outwardly extending elements of the configuration typified by rings 34 or brackets 36. The ring 32 is provided with a plurality of radially disposed inwardly extending means, as for example, spoke-like-elements 40, that converge into an axially disposed element 42 having an axially disposed bore 44.

It will be observed that the accessory 30 may be positioned on the hub 16 so that the bore 44 thereof and the bore 18 of hub 16 are in alignment. The pin 28 is then inserted through said aligned bores thereby creating an assemblage in which the tray is available for its customary usefulness; and supplemented further by the externally disposed elements such as 34 and 36 of the accessory. The dental unit, as thus modified, now provides the dentist with greatly expanded facilities in carrying out his professional activities. Into the ring-like elements 34 there may be placed suitable receptacles, as for example, paper cups for holding various items used during the course of operative procedures, and for collecting materials that are to be discarded or accumulated. Thus, these receptacles may be used for supplying easily reachable cotton, swabs, etc. Likewise, they may be used for the reception of items such as swabs removed from the mouth of the patient. The cup may be used to receive other discarded elements or for the collection of items that are not to be discarded. The accessory thus makes it possible markedly to improve the hygienic conditions prevailing during the course of operative procedures. One of such receptacles may be utilized for accumulating bits of precious metals containing amalgam or free-mercury. An element such as 36 may be used as a support for any of a variety of instruments used by the dentist during the course of his operations. For example, one hook 36 may be used as a support for an air gun, and another hook 36 as a support for a water gun. The accessory may freely rotate within the limits controlled by the burner 70. As shown in the drawing, the accessory may rotate through approximately If the positioning of the burner 70 be changed so as to allow for the full clearance of elements 34 and 36, the accessory can rotate through a full 360. The accessory, as has been stated, may freely rotate, independently of the tray assemblage so that the dentist can rotate the same to bring the desired receptacle within easy reach.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tray-support 60 is mounted on a standard 62 carried by a single arm (not shown) of the dental unit. The tray support 60 is a dishlike member having an upper edge or rim 64. The tray 46 is provided with a rim 48 which normally rests on rim 64. The accessory 50 comprises a ring 52 that is peripherally recessed as at 54. Ring 52 carries a plurality of peripherally disposed elements (similar to elements 34 and 36) such as 56 and 58, respectively. In assembled relationship, the ring 52 sits on rim 64 and the tray 46 is positioned within the ring so that the rim 48 thereof rests on top of the ring. In that way, both the tray 46 and the accessory may be freely and independently rotated.

it will be apparent, accordingly, that an accessory in accordance with this invention makes it possible greatly to expand usefulness of dental tray assemblies of dental units so that the dentist. is provided with easily removable receptacles and instruments supporting means positioned close to the tray of the dental unit.

It will be understood that the foregoing description of the invention and the embodiments set forth are illustrative of the principles thereof. Accordingly, the appended claims are to be construed as defining the invention within the full spirit and scope thereof.

We claim:

1. An accessory for a dental unit that provides expanded working facilities in association with the tray thereof comprising a rotatable ring having peripheral elements adapted for supporting items used in work and extending beyond the periphery of the tray, said ring having a peripheral recess for the mounting thereof on the tray supporting member of a dental unit in position beneath the tray and adapted to receive the tray when set therein.

2. An accessory for a dental unit that provides expanded working facilities in association with the tray thereof comprising a rotatable ring having a plurality of peripheral annular elements adapted for supporting cups and peripheral elements adapted for supporting work bination, a main hollow cylindrical base defining an up- Wardly opening receptacle, an auxiliary rack extending partially Within and supported upon the upper peripheral edge of said receptacle, and an instrument tray nested within said rack supported upon the top thereof, said auxiliary rack comprising an annular frame having a depending circular flange coincident with the inner peripheral edge thereof, said flange being slidably received within said hollow cylindrical base of said frame overlying and being supported upon. said upper peripheral edge thereof, said instrument tray comprising a circular plate slidably received within said frame and having an outwardly and upwardly extending rim, and said frame having a plurality of radially outwardly extending instrument supporting brackets.

4. An accessory for a dental unit as set forth in claim 3, wherein the outer peripheral edge of said base, frame, and rim are in substantially vertical alignment with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 160,688 Brock Oct. 31, 1950 226,645 Albaugh Apr. 20, 1880 351,578 Colburn Oct. 26, 1886 747,929 Bliss Dec. 29, 1903 846,420 McKenney Mar. 5, 1907 919,708 Faulkner Apr. 27, 1909 1,604,193 Pieper Oct. 26, 1926 2,719,413 Panzer Oct. 4, 1955 

